Time Off

Knowing that the time between Christmas and New Year's is often extremely quiet at work, and remembering that I still have a few vacation days left this year, I am taking some much needed time off. Tuesday into Wednesday is taken up by the annual CCYM reunion being held at Beth's church. And because my brother and his family are spending the next few days in Omaha with my grandfather, my parents and I are going over to their house on New Year's Eve, instead, to exchange gifts. But that leaves half of Wednesday through the first half of Saturday, 3 days of unscheduled time, with which to do whatever I want to do.

I generally don't make resolutions - partly because I know that I'm not disciplined enough to follow through - and I'm not planning on making any this year. However, as the year winds down so does another whole year in my life leading up to my own personal New Year's. So it might make sense, as I approach my quarter century mark, to just take those few days to find some rest and renewal.

I haven't decided on what to do yet. I thought about maybe spending a couple days at an inn up in Ontario - I had planned on going up there a couple of years ago as a birthday present to myself but my plans had to change a bit - but I'm not sure I want to spend the money since I'm starting to save for my real vacation at the end of May. I might just take a day trip somewhere I've never been, or haven't been to in a while. I mean, Niagara Falls and Montreal are only a few hours away. I don't feel the need to drive back out to Boston since I was only there in September. There's a friend I've been trying to get in touch with again that would be within a few hours' drive but I'd rather have plans first than drive down there for nothing. Or, I could just live like a hermit for a few days.

In any case, this needs to be a time for rest and for rediscovery of myself. January 1st is the beginning of a new calendar year. But, as I've said before, my birthday is my real New Year's. As I approach this nice round numbered age I will make no resolutions, but in many ways I hope it is a beginning that will leave me with hope and joy and love and peace that will last.